When the Stars Faded

Chapter 2

Mankind was a privileged race, having the entirety of the Earth as their home, the unimaginable power of immortality, and the primal passions such as sex and battle. Even with this power, man was nothing more than a caretaker of the Earth that the gods had built for themselves. Man had become greedy, stealing what didn't belong to them, battling over materialistic possessions and a slimy sense of wealth. The world that they were tasked with caring for was rotting around them and this angered the gods, specifically Aries, the king of gods, who had spent many months designing this plane of life. He ordered the removal of man's immortality, a task easier said than done. Capricorn, god of magic and knowledge, created the Scorpio, god of death and guide to the afterlife. Leo, goddess of life and fortune, was opposed to the idea of death, but was ignored by the other gods.

Oulam, first child of Leo and eternal worshiper of her, had spent every Sunday since his creation returning to her alter deep in the forest and praying to her. During his prayers, he once heard the voice of another god, the Gemini. As tradition, Oulam never gazed upon him during their conversations. While he devoted himself to Leo, Oulam also took Gemini into his heart, taking Saturdays for the new god. Today he kneeled in front of the alter and spoke with Gemini.

"Oulam, your unwavering devotion over this past year has pleased me," Sirius told him, "today I offer you the chance to look upon your lord."
"My deepest gratitude." Oulam said, never looking up from the ground.
"Tell me, my child, are you aware of the concept of death?"
"No my lord."
"It is what happens when life has come to an end."
"Does life not end?"
"It hasn't until now." Sirius said watching the figure behind Oulam approach.
"For somebody to stop living, should they have sinned?"
"Sin they would have, my child. Those who die are not condemned though, they are merely taken from this world to the next."
"And what is the next world?"
"It is beyond even my comprehension," Sirius said as he halted Cygnus whose scythe was poised to strike, "which is why I ask this of you Oulam."
"What is it my lord?"
"Would you willingly give yourself to death?" Sirius asked.
"I... I am unsure." Oulam replied.
"Leo will insure your safe passage back to the realm of the living."
"Though I do not doubt you my lord, I wish to hear this from Leo herself." Oulam insisted. Sirius nodded and placed his hand against her alter, and then, in a mimic of her voice, said;
"You have my word."
"Very well my lord, might I beg one last thing of you." Oulam asked.
"One."
"May I gaze upon you?"
"Very well, I shall allow this." Oulam brought his head up from the ground and saw Sirius towering over him with another figure standing next to him which must have been Leo. Oulam smiled and Sirius nodded toward Cygnus who brought the scythe down on Oulam. Though it was a painless death, Oulam's face twisted in horror before he fell in front of Sun's altar, dead.
"Well done Cygnus, guide him to your chambers, we shall meet once more at the circle." Cygnus nodded and sprouted black wings from his back before flying back to the skies. The shadowy figure beside Sirius contorted and constricted around his figure.
"How long do you think?" It asked him.
"A few days for some effect, we'll speak to him then." Sirius replied.